Mark Noble threw a pitch invader to the ground during Saturday's EPL match at London Stadium.GETTY IMAGES
Premier League side West Ham United's owners "will be protected by a fortified London Stadium and a police presence to help to prevent a repeat of the scenes that marred Saturday's 3-0 defeat by Burnley," according to Gary Jacob of the LONDON TIMES. With the club scheduled to meet its stadium partners on Monday, "building work will take place to prevent home supporters from being able to congregate in front of the directors' box to vent their anger and throw missiles," as they did over the weekend. West Ham co-Owner David Sullivan "was struck by a coin but his glasses stopped it from hitting his eye." He called an emergency meeting immediately after the game. Sullivan's fellow co-Owner, David Gold, "was said to have been shaken and the pair left the ground nearly three hours after the game ended" (LONDON TIMES, 3/12). In London, Jacob Steinberg reported West Ham is "prepared to pay for a huge police presence inside the London Stadium." The club, which is "facing heavy punishment" from the FA, is "unhappy with the failure of stewards to deal with the disturbances" and insisted that the stadium operator, LS185, place police officers inside the ground for the remaining five home matches of the season. London Mayor Sadiq Khan condemned the trouble on Monday and called for an investigation. The club is "not responsible for footing the police bill" under the terms of its agreement with the London Legacy Development Corporation, which pays it in full, "but the FA will hold West Ham responsible for what took place." Board members have been "shaken by the protests" and "indicated a willingness to make a financial contribution to bolster the security arrangements" (GUARDIAN, 3/12). Also in London, Jason Burt reported if agreed, West Ham would expect the stewarding budget to be transferred to the club and would then add to that with its own funds. However, it also believes "a far more visible policing presence inside the stadium would also calm down supporters and will ask why that has not happened before now." Despite the abuse, Sullivan and Gold will continue to attend home matches. Sullivan said on Saturday that he felt "very badly let down" by the stadium operator, and there is "particular concern over the ease with which fans were allowed to run on to the pitch." Meanwhile, West Ham captain Mark Noble said that he "could not see a way in which the anger from the fans" toward the club's owners, much of which centers around the move from Upton Park to the London Stadium, "would dissipate." Noble: "This is our stadium now. There is nothing we can do about it. It seems to me that there is so much anger out there that it is not going to go away" (TELEGRAPH, 3/12).
